MADISON – The defensive coordinator is a newbie, a 34-year-old who has one season of coaching on his résumé.

The team leader in interceptions and No. 2 tackler from last season has moved on.

Both starting linebackers, who combined for 15½ sacks and 21½ tackles for loss, are in the National Football League.

A four-year starter at cornerback who started 51 games and played in 54 overall, is also an NFL rookie.

So what does the 2017 season hold for Wisconsin’s defense, which has been outstanding over the last four seasons?

“I think we can be great,” sophomore inside linebacker Chris Orr said. “Just like I said last year. We just keep replacing guys. ... Guys just keep filling that void. I think we can be better than we were last year.

“We’ve got to get 11 guys to the ball on each play, no matter how far downfield it is.”

If UW’s defense can match or better the numbers of last season the accomplishment will be a testament to the quality of personnel assembled and the work of the coaches, particularly rookie coordinator Jim Leonhard.

In the last four seasons, UW has allowed foes an average of 16.6 points per game. That is the No. 2 mark nationally, behind only Alabama.

Redshirt junior inside linebacker T.J. Edwards has no qualms predicting UW can again field a top-10 defense.

“Yeah, 100%,” said Edwards, who has led UW in tackles in each of his first two seasons. “Those guys that left, they were great leaders for us. But we have guys who are completely capable of repeating what they did.

"It is going to be exciting to have guys step up and see how they react to having a spotlight on them.”

With redshirt senior Jack Cichy (knee) out for the season, the job of manning the inside positions should fall mostly onto the shoulders of Edwards, Ryan Connelly and Orr.

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Jim Leonhard is the new defensive coordinator for the Badgers.
University of Wisconsin

“Coach Leonhard is obviously extremely creative and he has a lot of experience,” Connelly said. “I am really excited to see what he has in store for us once the season actually gets started.

“We’re a group of guys ... we like to fly around. I think Coach Leonhard will play off our energy and have some things ready for us.”

The line should be stout and offers a mix of veterans such as Conor Sheehy, Alec James, Chikwe Obasih, Olive Sagapolu and youngsters including Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk.

The secondary, thanks largely to the addition of cornerback Nick Nelson, is expected to be strong again.

Perhaps the only question left to be answered is whether Garret Dooley, Leon Jacobs, Andrew Van Ginkel can collectively overcome the departures of Watt and Biegel. With outside linebacker Zack Baun also out for the season, walk-on Tyler Johnson and Christian Bell will battle to get into the rotation.

If outside linebackers coach Tim Tibesar can coax big plays out of that group, UW’s defense could be special again.

“I feel like every year, no matter what team you’re on, you have a chance to be better,” said senior cornerback Derrick Tindal, who has started 20 games and played in 38. “As far as talent, I feel like this is the most-talented team I’ve been a part of as far as depth.

“We definitely have a chance to be better. Will I say we are better? No. We won’t know until the end of the season. We’re going to try to put it together.”